Tire repair vulcanizing apparatus



April 20, 1948. H. T. KRAFT TIRE REPAiR'VULCANIZING APPARATUS FiledSept. 5, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Herman I; Kraft ATTORNEY April20, 1948. H. T. KRAFT 2,439,896

TIRE REPAIR VULCANIZING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Herman T. Kraft AT TORNE H. T. KRAFT TIRE REPAIR VULCANIZINGAPPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Herman T- KraftATTORNEYS iPatenteol Apr. 20,- 1948 2,439,896 7 TIRE nErAIa VULCANIZINGAPPARATUS Herman T. Kraft, Akron, Ohio,

assignor to The General Tire and lRubber Company, Akron,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Applicationseptember 5, 1946, SerialNat-94,850

Thisinvention relates to a tire repair Vulcanizing apparatus and moreparticularly to apparatus for repairing tires of the larger sizes.

The present invention has for an object to provide a vulcanizingapparatus in'which the-- tire maybe assembled with and removed from arepairvulcanizing mold with a minimum of labor.

V 13 Claims. (01. 18-18) A further object of the invention is to provide7 a simple and convenient device for transferring a tire to and from asuitable support upon which the tire and mold are supported duringvulcanization. V j

With the above and other objectsin view the invention may be said tocomprise the tire repair vulcanizing apparatus illustrated in theaccompanying drawings hereafter described and particularly set forth inthe appended claims, toether with such variations and modificationsthereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains.- v

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis specification in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tire repair vulcamzing apparatusembodying the invention, the transfer table being shown in position toreceive a tire casing;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus showing the transfer tableand tire casing in full lines positioned to place the tire casing uponthe support, the the receiving position of the transfer table beingshown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tire transfer table; Fig. 4 is a frontelevation of the apparatus with the :tire casing in position fortransfer to the support; Y v

Fig.5 is a front elevation of apparatus showing a tire casinglifted offthe transfer table;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the apparatus showing the tire and moldin vulcanizing posi-' tion;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the tire support showing thesupport adjusting device;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the mo1d,-

tire casing and support, the section being on an enlarged scale andtaken substantially on the line indicated at 88 in Fig.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the jack actuating gearing. Y v

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the apparatus of the presentinvention is provided with 'a suitable base I which carries a standard 2upon which is mounted a vertically adjustable sleeve 3. s The sleeve 3carries a transverse shaft 4 which has a hand crank 5 attached theretoand which carries a pinion 6 which meshes with a vertical rack I fixedto the standard 2. By operating the crank 5 manually, the sleeve 3 maybe moved up-or down on the standard 2. A'suitable pawl 8 is provided onthe sleeve for engagement with the rack I to retain the sleeve 3 in anydesired position of vertical a'djustment,the pawl being held in lockingposition with respect to the rack by any suitable means such as aweighted arm 9. The sleeve 3 carries a horizontal arm in the form r of ashaft I0 which provides a pivotal support for a suitable mold and tirecarrying-frame I I. The frame II has laterally projecting knuckles I 2which receive the shaft II) to provide a pivot about which the frame hasvertical swinging movement. I 1 v Centrally thereof the frame II carriesa jack screw I3 which is guided for endwise vertical movement in theframe II. The frame II is provided adjacent the bottom thereof with aslot I4 which is wide enough to receive a nut I5 in which the screwI3'is threaded. The nut I5, together with a washer I6, fits within theslot I4 and the portions of theframe II above and below the slot I4 areprovided with openings through which the screw extends.- The nut- I5 hasan integral bevel gear I! which is adapted to be driven by a bevelpinion I8 carried by a shaft I9 journaled in'the frame II and in abracket 20 attached to the frame by means of'bolts 2|. The shaft I9 hasa hand crank 22 attached thereto by means of which-it may be turned toadjust the screw I3.

The frame II is held in adjusted positions on the shaft III by means ofa' curved link 23 which is pivoted at its upper end to the frame I I andwhichhas a'longitudinal slot 24 which receives a bolt 25 attached to thesleeve 3 laterally of the shaft II]- When the bolt 25 is engaged withthe upper end of the slot 24, the frame II is supported in a position inwhich the screw I3 is vertical and when the bolt 25 engages the lowerend of the slot 24', the frame II is supported with the screw I3 in aninclined position. The frame II is so constructed that its center ofgravity'is shifted across the shaft II) in its movement from its uprightto its inclined position so that the weight of the frame will act tohold the frame II in either of the two positions referred to.

The frame I I has upright end portions 26 on oppositesides of the screwI3 and the end portions 26 carry horizontal pins 21 and 28 which areaxially alined and radially disposed with respect to the screw I 3, thepins 21 and 28 projecting from 2,439,896 3 4 i the inner and outerupright portions 26 toward ing transfer table which is employed tofacilitate the screw l3. The pins 21 and 28 are held in the mounting ofthe tire casing upon the supportposition by means of a screw 29 and alocking ing frame II. The transfer table has a U frame pin 30. The pin28 has spaced sockets 30a to 56 which is mounted on the pivot 55 toswing receive the locking pin 30 and can be adjusted horizontally, theframe 56 having parallel outaxially in its upright 26. wardly projectingarms 51 which provide a sup- The screw 13 provides a support for asuitable port for a, tire receiving platform composed of a tire moldthat is. adapted to be assembled with pairgofvspacedrollers SBmonntedinsidebars 59 the tire casing in suchmanner that bothlthe moldwhich are-connected intermediate-the rollers by and casing may besupported upon the frame ll. means of a cross shaft 60 which isjournaled in At its upper end the screw i3 carries a cap 35L 7 the outerends of the arms 51 to provide a horithat is provided with areduc.ed.tip 32.thatHen-m zontal, .pivot,,,for, the tire supportingPlatformgages in a socket 33 in the thickened 'base 34" The rollers" 58are spaced apart a sufi'icient disof an inner mold member oricore 35,;The core tancetogsupnortiatirh casing 40 in p h p imember 35 ispreferably a hollow-lmetalfimember 5 vtionivvhentherollei carrying frameis horizontally shaped to conform to the interior of the po1---disposedi tion of a. tire casing that isbeingrepaired. The The-roller,.f-rameuis adapted to be held in horiscrew [3 has a reduced tip 36 whichis of a diamezontal position by means of a suitable latch BI ter to fitwithin a socket 31 formed inthe-cap slidable in one of the arms 51 anden ing in a 3|. In order to accommodate tire casings of difhole 6 n onef t bars 59- s shown in Fi 3 ferent diameterspne; or nmreintermediatememaleverfihis pivoted to theouter end ofrthe-latch bers- &-;me e te osed-between.the t llpfil': 6 n l v eaeeee ra :sprine: 4- endofthe sqrewj3'angl t11e ap;3 Th @1 1 whichactuatesthe{leverin;ardirecti'orr -to press e at 19? 4s l rm siit rtsmon hezt p the Pint- (toward 'loekineipositionr enrt e 36 2 the -lxwrand basal l'Qi iqniaai finitsj eireleasedthe-:mHen-carrying influpper end- -whieh is; of; theesame diametegas freeto move-toeposition-71inwhichrthesoutermost, thetip SQs Jhat will ihirgfihgsqeketj-I; roller-fia-engages the floor-as shown in1-Fign1- ofof thecap 3l The cor sassemhled within; the drawings. The platform mayalso be proa tire ca sing dqand when placed liQQn the i p vided-with asprings- 65 which assists -in1mov1ng n 0 fi; .56 liserms to sunpqlitktire; the. rollenframe-to a-horizontal'positiomwhemthe;: iild; tireisrolledonto-thesrollers. .58..- The outer face. :,0rd r;;i \hQld-. a lllli l sooi the t reiecasel r 110M? 9 a e -1 r. latch n- 6 I is or lj h lylI g'j 1ph QE t eit retcasina; a Width Such that the pin 6 en agesits.;outer-' is engaged ;;exte Q13 byi -an inijataple b q surfacetwhiletthe ;frame. is tilted vand-twill z snap whi h is shaped osubstahtiiallm cohform toiihe. into.theeopeninagfiz when athe,irameiriszsswune-i exteriorof theportionot theiireg ea mg ;1-,ha,i; ,ibackQ-to.horizontal-mention. The "transfer jam engaged with the core 35.To hold the ,bagdla in issoi mounted; -.that the2 -,tirevrecei-vingsplatformw place a flexible oover fl isi pljgyidgfl mfits is-movable fromia pqsitionbeneath the support-r v he infla ah m ez ndl whohzisprovided; to a o it t d -t r he s pport where: th e to hepsdie s trm. fitin ri loops in; 4a a g! ve ee nedi onto the ;table;" whichreceive argcuate pars: 4 arri d -b tt t V the rollers. 58:ebein uarallelywithfihe sha-f-tw I0 111g. p tes; 4 cmszvici dwithiopeningsiaeswmont nd: OD DEO il e-sides, ther wh nfr ransferreceive the -pins zl andgl flhe comm qt table -isbeneaththe supportandaatijrightiangles;v drawn tightly ag ai1 1 s m b g lg ml, to theshaft I0 when the table is in tire receivi h .5 QI'QW'Len-Emily:toleaerta-ilnward DEESSUEB': os i 1 on'the core; 35;;an dthrough gthe- ;tire ;casing;, and; e-popes endiof-stherstandard carriesacross; inflatablehag tothe; cove 13 42;; to -draw the coverbarfidwhichprovides arsupportfonthe flexible; tightly against tlieezgtegzjop f-jhe 'rh t cover 42 while the tire casing is beingpmount d;taching plates Q5;areprcvjdedgsgvith flanges Alvin: 01111 1 18tsupportin sgmember; the: height: ofgzthe e se n lther p s h llliffigfigfi;Wii7h. n0tchesg503 i122106mg$ 0K:lihaicdthe:cover-425511121X.u .9he unde si e ttheminsm andozrstdane. h Q en h iQ SS- baPBE withmeow-sends; QR-t e nnere dsnnt eirles hiehavensz so than. Qh red-toth ine r taining spin :21: andzits h in atab e base tmay eh ld rthtlyaagazinsto opposite end h n neemon ilheuo posi-te :sidei of: theexterior of the tire casing from head toibeadcg gs andard u t es. u camin honerationllsteamsis m fi en': e rheslaneiappiied 1702131163 111 sedrou h ,t ezco e 3.5 anxienflatablezbaeee; er vm e i l'fif fil gzlioterrepairedigandia-eora1 the; core 35 .;loeing pEOYldQ WijhginLQt amp- 635 is positioned within the portion of theztireirhau t tubes de; and50.; andithe basis libeing pricewhich-is torbentpairedmThelrollempiatfommis ed W .m fi fin fixlla dtstubes15loandglili.Tnea then dzatQrfiqtmfingagingi positiorrlasshown tire casing gil isassembled: with thezmold members 2 in i ifi fii renna in a-w th .t eliCore-:35 nd mo ed; oat s s po t-:1. l W thhhe mmit: erein-demon :rolledlento the: rollers: r5832. Thei; ii l nie tpqs ionas sh wn inoFiessand-;.5.;; ngagement of the tire tread with the interior-1.: For c nzine this s pnortzis tilted to stheipcsh ofvthfiiro l rszfiaieausfisutherollensplatfoiim tease tion s o smt aelt e-drain etubes 50s li doitoitsnhorizontalsposition whereffit risirera a d 5 arev po itioned; in lfigl wfirmost portions fi z-t ined: byathealatch 6min tins-positionof-ithe litba'gl a d 13h? inlett besddz and. rolle isc ithe ti zez'eaine 1Szsupportediinoanszupe1" 5| are ponncoted t th ;i pnsrsendgofithe;core1 ht posit on-.-:..The.trained:fiimaylthenrherswunets d s 111 sp operpdraihage of:icondensateyz horizontally to theposition-showniniafullsiliness is provided duringth.vulcanizing-gperationq;. of-Iig. 2' causingmhe supportingifirame lrlrtoenter The apparatus p rthe re ent i Y ntion; is parnthe central openingof the tire casing.' Theztine ticuia y d n dforr s of-.;-; '-2 largersizes as n z-g fl S PD H E L;0n::the:-rollersrfiazzcanisthn which are iee a dtoeheaw; i rco nre ient; o adily turned;iliotbllingiffi'hfii0011823531305Bt130si=- handling, As shown perige -1,2 and -3 the;ba e;, tiondirectly overthefsupper send -',Of5$h-fj3ki; lcarries i nfi-hiflalhpf thostanda r lewd-3a TheliaclnscrevmthemisengagemWithi: 2 which pr a P Y 1 h XiZQ i Q lIY; s r n s; 12118 :Qore.-35-;Whereupon anyirepai-rzoperations mayv.

be conveniently performed uponethe exterior of the tire casing andvulcanizing material may. be applied externally to the damaged portionof the casing. After the, vulcanizingvmaterial has been applied the bag4| inflated with air, is placed over the .top portion of the tire casingwhich rests upon the core 35 and the cover 42; is swung over the bag 4|and engaged with the outer of the anchoring pins 28. Theengagement of;the outer anchoring plate 45 of the cover with the pin 28 may beefiected by removing the locking pin 30 and retracting the pin 28 topermit the plate 45 to be positioned opposite the inner end ofthe pinand the pin to be moved into the opening 46 of the plate 45 to anchorthe outer end of the tire cover. After the tire cover is thus anchoredthe screw i3 is actuated to tighten the cover and to lift the tirecasing 40 out of engagement with the rollers 58 so that the supportingframe I l and the mold and tire casing may be swung to inclined positionshown in Fig. 6 for the vulcanizing operation.

Upon completion of the vulcanizing operation the frame II is swung backto the upright position and the jack screw [3 is operated to lower thetire easing into engagement with the rollers 58 and to loosen the cover42. The pin 28 may be then retracted and the cover ,may be then swungback over the top of the standard 2 which will permit removal oftheinflatable bag. The screw l3 may be moved downwardly enough to free thecore so that the transfer table with the tire thereon may be swunglaterally to a position clear of the support where the tire may berolled ofi onto the floor.

It will be apparent that the device of the present invention provides ameans for repairing large tires with a minimum of labor.

The apparatus of the present invention is designed to handle tires whichvary considerably in size, the adjustment of the support ll verticallyon the standard 2 enabling the support to be positioned at the properheight for tires of different diameters and the cover securing meansbeing designed to accommodate covers of different sizes It is to beunderstood that suitable cores 35 will be provided for each size of tireto g be repaired and that different sizes of bags 4| and covers 42 maybe provided. The bags ll and covers 42 are adaptable to tires varyingin'size so that it will not be necessary to provide as many bags andcovers as cores 35. Since the core 35 should accurately fit within thetire casingbeing repaired it is desirable to provide a core for eachdiameter of tire.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the specificdevices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a stand h'aving horizontallyprojecting supporting means adapted to enter the center opening of atire casing, a transfer table mounted for movement into and out of aposition beneath said supporting means, and means on said table forpositioning a tire in upright position thereon so that said supportingmeans may be caused to enter the opening of the tire casing when thesaid table is moved to a position beneath said supporting means.

2. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardprovided with a horizontally projecting tire supporting arm adapted toenter the center opening of a tire casing and a tire casing in anupright position thereon,

whereby said arm will enter the opening of said tire casing when saidtable is moved to a position beneath said arm.

3. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardprovided witha horizontally projecting tire supporting arm adapted toenter the center opening of a tire casing, said arm being adjustablevertically on said standard to accommodate tires of different sizes, anda transfer table upon which a tire casing may be rolled, said tablehaving means for supporting a tire casing in upright position andbeing'movable from a tire receiving position clear of said arm to atransfer'position beneath said arm-to position the tire casing withthesaid arm in its central opening, i I

4..Repair'vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardprovided with a horizontaltire supporting arm, a transfer table mountedadjacent the base of said standard for movement from a tirereceiving"positionclear of said arm to a position beneath said arm, saidtable having means for holding a tire casing in a position toreceive'said arm in itscentral opening when said table is moved to a,position beneath said arm, means carried by the arm'for lifting a tirecasing off said table, mold sections engageable with a portion of a tirecasing, and means for detachably securing said mold sections to saidarm. 3

5. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardprovided with a horizontal tire supporting arm, a transfer table mountedadjacent the base of said standard for movement from a tire receivingposition clear'of said arm to a position beneath said arm, said tablehaving means for holding a tire casing in a position to receive said amin its central opening when said table is moved to a position beneathsaid arm, a mold member engageable with the interior of a tire casing, amold member engageable with the exterior of a tire casing, and means fordetachably connecting said mold members to' said arm.

6. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardprovided with a horizontal tire supporting arm, a transfer table mountedadjacent the base of said standard for movement from a tire receivingposition clear of said arm to a position beneath said arm, a pair ofspaced tire tread engaging rollers on said table for rotatablysupporting a tire casing in upright position whereby said arm is causedto enter the central opening of the casing when the table is moved to aposition beneath said arm, mold sections engageable with the interiorand exterior of the tire casing, and means for detachably securing saidsections to said supporting arm.

7. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardand'a, horizontal tire supporting arm projecting from the standard, atire transfer table adjacent the base of the standard and mounted toswing about a vertical axis, said table having a pair of spaced paralleltire supporting rollers and being movable from a tire receiving positionin which said rollers are disposed to one side of said arm to a transferposition in which said rollers are substantially parsesame shot withsaid arm below the sameupon oi positesidesthereof; r 1' 3. .Repairvulcanizing apparatus. comprising a support'having a' standard andahorizontar tire supporting arm proiectingfi'om'the standard, a tiretransiertable adjacent the base or the stand.- ard and; mounted toswing; about a verticalaxis, said table being movable from. a tirereceiving position to a tire transfer position beneath said arm, saidtable havinga tire.- receiving platform pivoted intermediate its ends.to swing about: a horizontal axis and; movable to. a'floor engag- 8 formcomprising a pairof spaced rollers for ro tatably supporting a tire inupright position, said table being movable from a tire receiving position to a transfer position in which said platform is beneath said armand said arm projects into the center opening of the tire casing on theplatform, means. for securingsaid mold meming position,v and a latch forreleasably securin said platform in horizontal position. 7

9. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardand: a tire supporting arm projecting horizontally from the standard, a.transfer table mounted adjacent the base of the standard and having a,tire. carrying platform comprising a pair of spaced rollers, for 120-tatably supportingv aetire'inuprigtht position, said table being movablefrom a tire receiving position to a transfer position inwhich saidplatform is beneath said arm and said arm projects into the centeropening of the tire. casing on the platform, and a jack carried by saidarm for lifting a tire off said table.

10. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardand a tire supporting arm projecting horizontally from the standard, atransfer table mounted adjacent the base of the standard and having atire carrying plat.- form comprising a, pair of spaced rollers forretatably supporting a tire upright position, said table being movablefrom a tire receiving position to a transfer position in which saidplatform is beneath said arm and said arm projects into the centeropening of the tire casing on the platform, interior and exterior moldmembers adapted to engage a tire casing, a member mounted on said arm toswing vertically on said arm, means for securing said mold members to atire casing and to said member, and means for securing said swingingmember in adjusted angular positions.

11. Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a support having a standardanda tire supporting arm projecting horizontally from the standard, atransfer table mounted adjacent the base of the standard and having atire carrying plathers to a tire casing andto said member including ajack operable to lift said tire offsaid table to permit retraction ofthe table so that saidmemher may swing laterally on said arm to positionthe mold members in an inclined position for vnlcanizing.

12,2. Repair vulcanizing apparatus. comprising a stand having ahorizontal arm, a supporting membcr pivoted on said arm to swingvertically, said member having a centralhorizontal portion and upwardlyextending inner and outer end portions, a vertically adjustable jackcarried by the central: portion of said member for engagement with atire core, inwardly projecting bars carried by said end portions, aflexible mold cover having end portions anchored to said bars, and meansfor securing said supporting member adjusted angularpositi'ons a 13.Repair vulcanizing apparatus comprising a stand having a horizontal arm,a supporting member pivoted on said arm to swing vertically, said membera central horizontal portion and upwardly extending in-ner'andouterendportions, averti'cal ly' adjustable jack carried'bythe central portionoi said member for engagement with a tire core, inwardly projecting barscarried by said end: portions, one of said bars being sl-idably mountedin the outer end portion of the supportmember, a flexible mold cover"having end apertures that: receive said bars, and means for releasablysecuring said slidable bar in adjusted position to: secure said cover tosaid supporting member.

HERMAN T. KRAFT.

REFERENCES GITED following references are of record in the nicer thispatent:-

UNITED STATES! Parame-

